A solemn meeting to celebrate the occasion of the Day of the Defender of the Fatherland
was held today in the Russian 4th military base in Tskhinval. The meeting was attended by representatives of the South Ossetian leadership, headed by the Acting President of the Republic Vadim Brovtsev. The Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov read out the order to the contingent of the military unit, in which the Defense Minister congratulated all Russian troops on the Day of the Defender of the Fatherland and wished all veterans of the World War II and the combat operations good health, prosperity and success, cultivating in the younger generation the traditions of serving the Fatherland faithfully.
"I wish the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation further success in strengthening operational readiness, improving the military skills," – has said the Defense Minister. The document has noted that in the evening to mark the occasion of the today's holiday, a festive artillery salute will be fired in all the Russian hero cities. The Acting President of South Ossetia Vadim Brovtsev has also congratulated the command of the military base on the holiday. "On behalf of the people of the Republic of South Ossetia, I congratulate you on the today's important event - the Day of the Defender of the Fatherland. The presence of the Russian troops in South Ossetia – is a guarantee of stability and peace for people of the Republic, who are very much obliged to you for conscientious attitude to your duties and faithful service to your obligations, "- said Brovtsev. During the event, the most distinguished military units were rewarded with the state awards of the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Ossetia. The meeting was concluded with a solemn march of the base contingent. Later, demonstration performance of soldiers and officers of the Intelligence Battalion has been held on the parade ground; they have demonstrated unarmed combat techniques and mock capture of the imaginary enemy secret documents by the intelligence agents. Today, the leadership of the Russian base has also laid funeral wreaths and flowers at the monument to the hero of Russia Denis Vetchinov, who died in August 2008 during the liberation of Tskhinval from the Georgian troops.
